Reading For College - #119 - "Psychologists Find Ways to Break Racism's Hold"

We were re-assigned to Lab "D" if you are in the lab today.

First, a few things to remember:

1. Proofread your work before you hit that "Publish" button.
2. Create at least 4 comments (each between 5-7 sentences)—1 to me and 3 to your peers.

Some comments and questions:

1. Even if someone is raised to be outgoing and accepting, how likely is it that s/he will become a racist?
2. The article addresses specific things that school administrators can do to prevent racism (right-hand column on p.456); but the idea put forth about "assigning" people to certain activities doesn't quite sound right. Why is this?
3. On p.455 scientists claimed that even when/if people observe behavior that defies categorization [of race and ethnicity] they still continue to categorize. Does this mean that people are capable of making progress, but not when it comes to racism, or does it mean that we still have a long way to go in terms of human evolution?
4. The whole part of #119--the section about learning teams--is based only on a promise. The very first paragraph in it states that learning teams of mixed race and ethnicity can lead to friendship. Isn't it a bit over-reaching of the author to write a whole section predicated on a possibility instead of research that can guarantee friendship among the races/ethnicities?
5. Human beings are the only species on this planet that practice racism, just as we're the only species that practice murder. Sociologists discovered that racism is something that we're not born with--we teach it to each other. My question is: If we've created racism, then why can't we create something to stop it altogether, right away?

This is our last class, so make your comments count. I decided to cancel class on Thursday the 15th as well so you will have enough time to put together your final assignment and portfolio. Your portfolios are due no later than December 15. As a reminder, please drop them off in the Literacy Education Department (P345). Place it in the box with our class on the label.

It was a pleasure to work with and get to know all of you.

Enjoy the holiday break,
Prof. Ferrante

Reading For College - #105 - "A Way Out"

First, a few things to remember:

1. Proofread your work before you hit that "Publish" button.
2. Create at least 4 comments (each between 5-7 sentences)—1 to me and 3 to your peers.

Some comments and questions:

1. "Our society is built on, of, and for the people, so why do such stereotypes and social limitations occur when our government [is supposed to] help its citizens to live?"
2. "We should forget [who gets] more welfare. What is important is the problem that the government is making it more difficult for people to get off of welfare."
3. "Why is welfare today making it harder for people to go to college and make a life for themselves?"
4. "People who are on welfare are no different...It is basically their fault that they are on welfare."
5. "If these benefits are out there for women who really need the support, I don't understand why other people judge [them]...People need to realize that there are women out there who need the help, regardless of race"
6. "What point was Jensen trying to prove when she would reveal to people that she was a welfare recipient?"
7. "Do you believe that making abortion mandatory for mothers on welfare with three or more children is fair?"

Assignments for Next Week:
Read and Response Journals for Articles #119 and #84

Blog sessions to be held in Lab E on Thursdays

Hi All,

Our blog sessions will now be held in Lab E between 12-2 on Thursdays in the very rear of the computer lab center. We will meet there from the beginning of our session, so you do not have to go all the way to S-525 and then come back down. Plus, we will have the benefit of sitting together as a group. Remember, I do give you the option to blog from home as long as it is between 12-2 on Thursdays. A special "thank you" to Dr. Pratt for making those arrangements for us!

Prof. Ferrante

#85 - Bad Sports

First, a few things to remember:

1. Proofread your work before you hit that "Publish" button.
2. Create at least 4 comments (each between 5-7 sentences)—1 to me and 3 to your peers.

By accessing the NBA's official website, I was able to find a news link to the following article from the Times Dispatch. For accessability's sake, I posted the link below which you can paste into your "address" window to view it. Please read the article carefully and remember to respond both to the questions asked and to each other in a professional manner.

Read the article titled: Newman found guilty of assault--Former UR star, NBA player is appealing case involving wife, which can be found at the website below. (You may wish to print the article itself out as it is usually easier to read lengthy text in this way.)

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768173811

Based on our class discussion and the Article "Bad Sports," discuss the following points and analyze the language of Mr. Newman's attorney:

1. What "spin" is Mr. Newman's attorney creating on Mrs. Lewis-Newman's actions?
2. What does this lead you to think about Mrs. Lewis-Newman's motives for filing charges against her husband?
3. How does Ms. Lewis-Newman's former carreer as an actress impact her credibility in the story?
4. How does the fact that Mr. Lewis has already been found guilty of assualting his wife impact your view on the matter?
5. What example is Mr. Newman's behavior setting for the team that he coaches?

Homework: Readings 104 and 105

Hi all,

Your homework will be to read 104 and 105 for the Monday after Thanksgiving break. You will be coming up with two questions for each reading for discussion in class that week.

Next week we will be answering your questions pertaining to the current readings on domestic violence and discussing the readings. Reminder: We will not be meeting on November 21st.
You may leave the lab when you are done posting-- have a great weekend.

Why Doesn't She Just Leave?

Please respond to the following questions and/or comments:

What factors may keep a person in a relationship that so clearly (to outsiders) is abusive and troubled?

Some ideas you may want to consider are economic, psychological, cultural, and gender issues. Be sure that you respond both to the initial question as well as to one another's responses. As always, your three responses should be well thought-out and "professional" in content and tone.


Some students suggested the following in their response journals:

After two people form a strong bond between themselves, a woman would do anything possible to maintain the relationship.-- Sherry

Something has to be wrong with her for her not to realize what is happening is wrong. The husband saying that all the physical abuse is out of love and the wife believing that is difficult to believe itself.-- Richard

Mid-semester Learning Log Portfolios

Please hand in your mid-semester learning log portfolios and this week's response journals on Monday as it would be problematic to collect them in the lab. Also, please be sure you finish blogging-- you should have 3 substantive posts on today's topic.

Have a great weekend!

Prof. Ferrante

Freedom for the Thought We Hate

Is there a difference between freedom of speech on the campus of a state university and the freedom of speech that is guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the U.S.? Discuss your position in 5-7 sentences and then be sure to debate others' positions on the subject for a total of 3 posts. Be specific and provide details that support your argument.

Readings for next week: 87, 85

Hi all,

The readings for next week are numbers 87 and 85. Please hand in your reading response logs with two questions each during Monday afternoon's class.
Wishing you a scary Halloween...
Professor Ferrante

Readings for next week: # 89, 121

Please hand in your response journals on Monday with two questions per reading. Don't forget to create three posts and check back to see how others have responded to the posts. I will be responding to various posts that you make, so check back often. Learning logs will be completed for this class as well, so don't forget! See you on Monday. Professor Ferrante.

PS- please remember that your posts should be 5-7 sentences long!

#36 "The Truth About Growing Up Rich" & #37 "The Working Mother as Fashion Victim"

Feel free to respond to either the comments section, the questions section, or both.

Some comments:

"A woman like Eileen Fisher is not the ideal working mother; she doesn't have to worry about spending time to clean her house or about preparing a meal for her family. Her two full-time domestic servants take away from the stresses of a working mother; therefore, Eileen becomes a full-time mother who happens to have a part-time job."

"Rich women feel that because they don't add any 'flavor' to their financial success, then they are worth nothing. Granted, the women don't mind spending the money on lavish things from time to time, but they still don't feel complete."


Some questions:

What impact would it have on society if a woman like Elizabeth Kolodzey was placed on the cover of People magazine?

Is it only a woman's social class that can distinguish what type of working mother she is?

Read Me First

So here is how this will work: I will get the online discussion started by positing a consideration, proffering an opinion, or posing a set of questions based on one of our weekly articles. Each of you will not only respond to me, but to at least three students. We'll keep the language professional and academic, as is the case for your hardcopy response journals. As for a minimum response, let's begin with an "oversized" paragraph of 5-7 sentences per response per individual.

Also, after you register at http://www.blogger.com/ (you'll need to do this in order to post comments), be sure to name yourself at the very end of each response (as usernames are often something other than your given name). Hopefully, this (we)blog will grow as your skills grow and this will also serve to put a new spin on an old "tried and true" method of collegiate discussion.

Lastly, for everyone's convenience, I've added links on the right navigation bar to Google (since its popularity and usefulness rival that of Mr. Webster's dictionary), Encarta (which also functions as a thesaurus as well as a dictionary), and also "The New York Times." The last of these links might seem like the proverbial "third wheel," but it will be quite useful to you in the future when you're given assignments such as "Quote a recent tabloid..." on such-and-such a topic. It's always handy to have solid supporting evidence in your academic wanderings.

A. Ferrante